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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 13, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 32

              Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago Celebrates

                        Sikh Empire Legacy Through Youth Art

               Punjab 1799–1849 Comes Alive in a Vibrant Community Gathering in the Chicago Suburbs

            OUR BUREAU                        historical  imagery  but  a  deep  emo-
                                              tional  connection,  reminding  attend-
            Chicago, IL
                                              ees that history is not distant—it lives
                   n  a  crisp  Sunday  morning,   through memory, art, and storytelling.
                   January 18, 2026, the Nation-  PCS  leaders  welcomed  families
            Oal India Hub in Schaumburg       and  guests,  underscoring  the  orga-  worker  and  the  first  Latina  to  hold   Sohi. High School: Avni Kaur earned
            transformed  into  a  living  gallery  of   nization’s  mission  to  preserve  Pun-  her  seat,  Senator  Villa  spoke  about   first place, with Keeret Gill and Saihaj
            history,  creativity,  and  cultural  pride   jabi  language,  heritage,  and  values.   children as the foundation of the fu-  Sidhu taking second and third.
            as the Punjabi Cultural Society (PCS)   President  Bikram  Singh  Sohi,  Vice   ture and emphasized resilience, unity,   PCS  also  recognized  winners
            of Chicago hosted its second annual   President  Gurlal  Singh  Bhattal,  and   and civic engagement. Drawing paral-  from last year’s declamation contest,
            Youth Art and Drawing Competition.   Executive  Secretary  Gurpreet  Singh   lels between immigrant journeys and   reinforcing  continuity  in  youth  en-
            More than 30 young artists from el-  Sidhu were joined by event organizer   the perseverance of the Sikh Empire,   gagement. The atmosphere was cele-
            ementary,  middle,  and  high  school   Paramvir  Kaur,  whose  coordination   she encouraged the youth to believe   bratory—children beamed with pride,
            levels  participated,  bringing  to  life   ensured a smooth and engaging expe-  in their potential and reject imposed   families posed for photos, and judg-
            the theme “Punjab in the Era 1799–  rience. As children worked quietly on   limits. Her message resonated strong-  es  and  organizers  shared  in  the  joy.
            1849,”  which  spotlighted  the  golden   templates or freehand drawings, par-  ly amid current national challenges.  Looking ahead, PCS announced
            age of the Sikh Empire under Maha-  ents looked on with pride.          Judging was conducted by a panel   its flagship cultural event, Rangla Pun-
            raja Ranjit Singh.                    A  defining  moment  of  the  pro-  of respected community professionals:   jab, scheduled for April 25, 2026, at
                The event was more than a com-  gram came with remarks by Dr. Pri-  Karan Sohi, data scientist at Anthem;   the Copernicus Center. Now celebrat-
            petition—it became a bridge between   mal  Kaur,  Chairwoman  of  PCS  for   Manpriya Kaur, an educator with 18   ing over three decades of service, PCS
            generations,   connecting   diaspora   2026  and  a  senior  biotech  executive   years in Chicago Public Schools; and   continues to foster Punjabi arts, lan-
            youth to a defining chapter of Punjabi   at  AbbVie.  Addressing  the  children   Manpreet Singh, artist and creator of   guage, sports, and civic participation
            history. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, known   directly, she asked, “When I say Pun-  LittleSikhs.com.  Entries  were  evalu-  through  year-round  programming.
            as  the  “Lion  of  Punjab,”  unified  the   jab, what does it mean to you?” Re-  ated for creativity, historical accuracy,   “This  competition  went  beyond
            region after capturing Lahore in 1799   sponses  ranged  from  “my  culture”   technique, and emotional depth.  art—it nurtured identity,” said Suresh
            and  established  a  powerful,  secular   and “where my family lives” to “mu-  Winners  were  announced  amid   Bodiwala, Chairman of Asian Media
            empire marked by religious tolerance,   sic,” “fields,” and “colors.” Dr. Kaur   enthusiastic applause.  USA. “By connecting children to the
            military strength, and cultural prosper-  praised the young artists for express-  Elementary (Template Category):   legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, PCS
            ity until its fall to British forces in 1849.  ing identity through creativity. “Keep   First place went to Khem Kaur Sohi,   is preserving Punjabi pride while in-
                Through pencils, paints, and imag-  drawing, keep painting, keep dream-  followed  by  Ayan  Singh  and  Sidak   spiring resilience, unity, and hope for
            ination,  the  young  participants  de-  ing,” she said. “As you grow, Punjab   Mangat. Freehand Category: Bani Gill   the future.”
            picted scenes of fortified Lahore, the   grows brighter through you.”  secured  first  place,  with  Prabhdeep   Through  color  and  creativity,  the
            Harmandir Sahib glowing under royal   The  event  was  further  elevated   Singh  Maken  and  Ekam  Singh  fol-  young artists ensured that the legacy of
            patronage, Sikh warriors on horseback,   by the presence of Illinois State Sen-  lowing. Middle School: Ramneek Gill   the Sikh Empire—its courage, inclusivi-
            fertile  fields,  and  emblems  of  sover-  ator  Karina  Villa,  representing  the   placed first, followed by Anmoldeep   ty, and cultural brilliance—continues to
            eignty. Each artwork reflected not just   25th District. A former school social   Singh  Maken  and  Mohkam  Singh   thrive across generations and continents.

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